SWTP623 - Legal Systems and Mental Health

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit provides essential background information for the practice of social work in relation to the law and in relation to the mental health system as these are two key areas of knowledge for social work practice. The first part of the unit provides students with a critical understanding of the Australian legal system and the way in which systems of law interact with social work. The second part includes critical analysis of mental health diagnoses and treatments, the current mental health system and the impact of current policy and practice on diverse and vulnerable populations affected by mental illness. The unit provides specific knowledge about making of laws and legal reasoning, with analysis of law, policy and practice at an advanced level. Key areas for social workers include child protection, criminal law, negligence, administrative law and mental health. The skills component includes a focus on writing for legal purposes, court processes and an introduction to mediation.